A survey of parents for EIF, published in the autumn, found that four in ten - 39 per cent - said their child’s mental health and wellbeing declined during the previous national lockdown.
Dr Jo Casebourne, chief executive of the EIF, said, ‘Although this latest lockdown is necessary to curb the spread of the virus, we mustn't lose sight of the fact it has massive ramifications for children. Understandably, parents will be worrying about their children’s mental health and we need to do all we can to support them.
‘That means upon the return to school, heads and teachers will need to concentrate not just on attainment and preparing for teacher assessments, but also on well-being. Without the focus on well-being, it’s unlikely that the growing gap in academic results between richer pupils and poorer pupils will be closed. We must make sure the harmful long-term impacts of the pandemic do not fall most heavily on the shoulders of the least well-off.’
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